album · January 26, 2006
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Domino Recording CoSee this day
This debut album defined a specific, youthful, and fiercely energetic moment in British guitar music. Its raw, observational lyrics and urgent sound captured the attention of a generation.
- The album was recorded at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire with producer Ewan Davies. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling over 360,000 copies in its first week. The album spawned the singles "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor", "When the Sun Goes Down", and "Fake Tales of San Francisco".
- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" won the award for Best British Album at the 2007 BRIT Awards. It was later featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The band self-funded the initial recording sessions, sharing demos online, which led to a significant grassroots following.
- The album's tracklist was initially 14 songs long but was shortened to 12 to fit onto a single CD. Guitarist Jamie Cook was briefly absent during the recording sessions due to illness, with producer Ewan Davies occasionally filling in. Alex Turner's lyrics often draw from specific observations of nights out in their hometown of Sheffield.
Sheffield, UK's Arctic Monkeys emerged in the early 2000s as a key band in the post-garage rock revival scene. At the time of this release, they were the fastest-selling debut album in UK history.
Tracklist
